Washington’s recent votes on marriage equality and marijuana use have finally pressured the federal government and U.S. Supreme Court to review how these issues are dealt with at a national level.

I would urge everyone who is appalled and concerned at the recent violence, and the regular stream of gun-related violence in this country, to put pressure not only on our federal representatives, but also our state representatives.

Our state could and should have among the strictest gun laws in the country, yet the continual lack of response from both representatives and citizens suggest that we are content to leave weapons in the hands of fragile human beings. Washington could and should, be at the vanguard of meaningful change.

In 1996, a similar school shooting at Dunblane in Scotland, prompted the UK government to quickly ban all handguns. This is what a capable, effective and representative government can do. It’s time for our lawmakers to stop talking the game and start acting.

Lyndon Heywood